{Art thou the King of the Jews?} (Su ei ho basileus t(936e)
Ioudai(936e);). This is the only one of the charges made by the
Sanhedrin to Pilate ( Lu 23:2 ) that he notices. He does not
believe this one to be true, but he has to pay attention to it or
be liable to charges himself of passing over a man accused of
rivalry and revolution against Caesar.  Joh 18:28-32  gives the
interview with Jesus that convinces Pilate that he is a harmless
religious fanatic. See on 烘t 26:11|. {Thou sayest} (su
legeis). An affirmation, though in  Joh 18:34-37  there is a
second and fuller interview between Pilate and Jesus. "Here, as
in the trial before the Sanhedrin, this is the one question that
Jesus answers. It is the only question on which his own testimony
is important and necessary" (Gould). The Jews were out on the
pavement or sidewalk outside the palace while Pilate came out to
them from above on the balcony ( Joh 18:28f. ) and had his
interviews with Jesus on the inside, calling Jesus thither ( Joh
18:33 ).